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Sunday, May 30, 2010

A LOOK AT -- TURFGRASS DISEASES

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Practices used to minimizethe use of turf fungicides

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Cultural Practices

The GREEN SPACE INDUSTRY ( which includes the GOLF INDUSTRY ) must provide the public with information supporting the idea that its time-honoured turf management practices, also known as « cultural practices », MAY SUPPRESS, but NOT CONTROL the damaging pests of turfgrasses.

These « cultural practices » will NOT effectively and consistently control damaging pests on ESTABLISHED turf.

At best, « cultural practices » MAY provide some LIMITED IMPROVEMENT towards the efficiency and effectiveness of conventional pest control products.

The use of « cultural practices » will NEVER achieve a total reduction or elimination of conventional pest control products necessary for the management of ESTABLISHED turfgrasses.

The term « cultural practices » is often used interchangeably with another term called « Integrated Pest Management », or its acronym « I.P.M. ».

Unfortunately, I.P.M. has been designed to be applicable to the AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, and NOT the GREEN SPACE ( or GOLF ) INDUSTRY.

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The Failure of Integrated Pest Management

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT is a FAILURE and a WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY for the GREEN SPACE INDUSTRY.

Adopting I.P.M. ACCOMPLISHES VIRTUALLY NOTHING.

Unfortunately, I.P.M. DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY CONTROL the pests that damage established turf.

Furthermore, I.P.M. WILL NOT resolve the public affairs issues concerning the prohibition of pest control products.

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The Golf Industry Exception Status

Pest control products are being PROHIBITED in many jurisdictions across Canada.

The GOLF INDUSTRY currently enjoys a PROHIBITION EXCEPTION STATUS in several jurisdictions across Canada.

It is ironical that both the GOLF INDUSTRY and the Modern PROFESSIONAL LAWN CARE INDUSTRY use the SAME ingredients that are needed to control insect and weed pests.

In the PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, a requirement for the GOLF INDUSTRY PROHIBITION EXCEPTION STATUS is the submission of an ANNUAL REPORT that must be prepared by individual golf clubs.

According to the ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT ―

« Annual Report. Owner/operators will be required to prepare an annual report disclosing the locations and amounts of pesticides used on the golf course. [ ... The golf course ... ] must provide an explanation of how maintaining accreditation by the IPM body minimized the use of the pesticide ingredients on the golf course and how it will minimize the use during the next year. »

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Golf Industry Policy

Here are excerpts from a GOLF INDUSTRY publication regarding INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, which was published by the CANADIAN GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION ( C.G.S.A. ) ― [ Item 4.2.3, Board of Directors Meeting, February 28th – March 1st, 2007. ]

These organisms are ALMOST ALWAYS present in nature, since they can live in dead plants, decaying organic matter, and the soil.

When environmental conditions are favourable for disease development, some diseases can be devastatingly lethal to golf courses, sports fields, and even residential home lawns.

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Occurrence of Turfgrass Diseases

Turfgrass disease problems can be an OVERWHELMING CHALLENGE, particularly in the Golf Industry.

There are OVER THREE DOZEN different diseases that can damage turfgrasses across Canada.

The implementation of changes in the practices of managing established turfgrasses may suppress the incidence of damaging disease organisms, but, overall, will not provide adequate control, which often can only be achieved with conventional disease–control products.

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List of Turfgrass Diseases Occurring Across Canada

● Algae & Algal Scum

● Anthracnose Basal Rot

● Anthracnose Foliar Blight

● Aschochyta Leaf Blight

● Bipolaris Summer Leaf Spot ( Helminthosporium Leaf Spot )

● Black Layer

● Blister Smut

● Brown Patch ( Large Brown Patch )

● Coprinus Snow Mold

● Curvularia Summer Leaf Blight

● Damping–Off

● Dollar Spot

● Drechslera Melting–Out ( Helminthosporium Melting–Out )

● Fairy Ring

● Fusarium Blight

● Gelatinous Lichen

● Gray Leaf Spot

● Gray Snow Mold ( Typhula Blight )

● Leptosphaerulina Leaf Spot

● Microdochium Patch ( Fusarium Patch )

● Moss

● Necrotic Ring Spot

● Pink Snow Mold

● Powdery Mildew

● Pythium Blight

● Pythium Root Rot

● Red Leaf Spot

● Red Thread & Pink Patch

● Rusts

● Slime Molds

● Snow Scald

● Stripe Smut

● Summer Patch

● Take–All ( Ophiobolus Patch )

● Yellow Patch ( Cool Season Brown Patch )

● Yellow Tuft

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William H. Gathercole and Norah G

National Organization Responding Against Huje that TERRORIZE, HARM, and THREATEN the Green Space Industry (NORAHG)

The information presented in this document is for preliminary planning only. Before making a final decision, the turf manager is expected to obtain trusted expert advice from extension specialists, local distributors and/or agronomists. All decisions must take into account the prevailing growing conditions, the time of year, and the established management practices.

All products mentioned in this document should be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions, and according to provincial, state, or federal law. For the official advantages, benefits, features, precautions, and restrictions concerning any product, the turf manager must rely only on the information furnished by the manufacturer. The mention of trade names does not constitute a guarantee or a warranty.

Force Of Nature presents THE WHOLE TRUTH FROM AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ! It is a series of reports developed for the education and entertainment of the turf manager. Force Of Nature is primarily used as a report from National Organization Responding Against Huje that seek to harm the Green Space Industry (NORAHG). All information, excerpts, and pictures contained in this document were found somewhere on the Internet, and may be considered in the public domain, serving one of the following purposes ― archive, education, promotion, publicity, or press release. Force Of Nature is TOTALLY INDEPENDENT of any trade association or business operating within the Green Space Industry. Don’t thank us. It’s a public service. And we are glad to do it.

Force Of Nature is the brainchild of William H. Gathercole and his entourage. Mr. Gathercole is a principal founder of the Modern Professional Lawn Care Industry in both Ontario and Quebec. He holds a degree in Horticulture from the University of Guelph, and another pure and applied science degree from McGILL University. He has worked in virtually all aspects of the Green Space Industry, including golf, professional lawn care, and distribution. Mr. Gathercole has supervised, consulted, programmed, and/or overseen the successful execution of hundreds of thousands of management operations in the urban landscape. He has trained, instructed, and advised thousands of turf managers and technicians. Mr. Gathercole has also been an agricultural agronomist. Mr. Gathercole is personally credited for crafting the Exception Status that has allowed the Golf Industry to avoid being subjected to the prohibition of pest control products. He is also the creator of the signs that are now used for posting after application. Mr. Gathercole is now retired from Force Of Nature, although his name continues to appear as the founder.